Thai FM denies Thailand's use of cluster bombs against Cambodia

BANGKOK, April 8 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that Thailand did not use cluster bombs against Cambodia as alleged, but Thai troops used Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) during border clashes earlier this year.

Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thani Thongpakdi insisted that Thailand’s responses to Cambodia during the border skirmishes strictly adhered to military rules of engagement.

Thani, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, was responding to an allegation of the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC) published by Reuters on April 6, saying that Thailand used cluster bombs against Cambodia.

Thani said the Thai ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva had already informed the CMC that Thailand, instead, used DPICMs, not cluster bombs, as the CMC claimed, and that Thailand had to use the DPICMs because the Cambodian side had used multi-barrel rockets--which indiscriminately affected Thai civilians; so, the Thai military had to attack Cambodia’s military locations for the sake of self-defence.

The spokesman noted that Thailand retaliated only when necessary and were cautious to prevent any adverse effect on Cambodian civilians. (TNA)